world harmony renaissance

Saturday, August 26, 2017

BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE WILL DRIVE EAST AND WEST REBALANCE IN 21ST CENTURY, THE REJUNVENATION OF CHINA WILL THUS BRING HARMONY TO THE WORLD
BY FRANCIS C W FUNG, PH.D.
In 2013 President of China, Xi Jingping, announced his dream for China to return to its historical glory of world power. The China dream of rejuvenation is the most important dream of all Chinese people in modern time. The same year he also announced the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative to revive the ancient Silk Road to reconnect China with Europe through Central Asia via land and sea roads. By connecting the world through communities of common destiny with land and digital infrastructures, trade and people exchanges and sea ports he hopes to realize China rejuvenation by bringing win-win prosperity to the world. This noble goal is fully supported by the full spectrum of Chinese public including government officials, think tanks, universities and many other countries along the belt and Road initiative according to Nadege Rolland in her 2017 book titled “China’s Eurasian Century.”
In the 2017 Belt and Road International Forum in Beijing, attended by over 100 world nations and thousands of leading business and press representatives, Xi delivered the keynote speech to reaffirm his goal of sharing China’s development with the world. Despite the overwhelming support of the B and R Initiative there remain some doubters such as the reigning power U.S. and the wannabe India. India went as far as to boycott the forum as the only major nation, out of sour grape mentality. Regardless of the many challenges in achieving such a grand holistic goal that will benefit the world by bringing prosperity and harmony, the Chinese nation is unified behind Xi Jingping to persist for the long term according to Nadege Rolland. In terms of historical perspective the present author wishes to offer following ideas and suggestions that may have important bearing on the long term success of the B and R Initiative.
In her 2017 book, titled “The US v. China in Asia: A new Cold War” , Judd Woodward elucidated in detail how the US launches a nothing spared cold war to contain China’s rise. On surface this may seem to impede China’s progress, however on more in-depth analysis this actually will unite China behind Xi’s B and R Initiative. The US ascended to the only major power in the world is in no small measure due to the impetus of the 20th Century Cold War waged by the Soviet Union against the US. To counter the USSR, US fine-tuned the free world ideology to rally world nations behind her to mount her rise as world leader. We must be reminded that the word challenge in Chinese means danger and opportunity simultaneously. Likewise, the counter force to US extreme cold war against China is for China to unite behind Xi’s noble B and R initiative. Together with the support of the whole nation China can now focus on the B and R Initiative objectives to its eventual success. In the process, China can learn from the US experience of using think tanks, common values and commerce to expand her influence. The execution of B and R Initiative shall be gradually accomplished by all government, non-government, private business, state business, think tanks and cultural entities. Xi Jingping is right by placing state enterprise in the lead. China is unique in that her state enterprises have enormous resources that they can bring to bear to open the drive followed by private enterprises. Once the momentum is created, many smaller nations will willingly join because of their years of suffering under US hegemony.
The philosophical guidance of B and R Initiative is Chinese Confucius teaching “The great way of community of common destiny” (Da Dao Zi Xin, Tien Hsia Wei Kung) advocated by Xi Jingping in many of his speeches. This Tien Hsia philosophy was the driving force that gave China’s 5000 years of peace and harmony. This is the open and inclusive philosophy that accepts diversity, equality, respectfulness without boundary, without prejudice that maintains the world in a dynamic balance. Just at the end, when the B and R initiative is fully implemented East and West rebalance will reach a dynamic harmony balance. This will be very different from US hegemony during 20th Century trying to force American standard and democracy on to developing nations by war.
Regardless of its commonly accepted noble goal of peace and harmony through community of common destiny, B and R initiative will be resisted by US and India because of their own selfish desire to retain control and influence. However, US is on the decline because of its nationalistic withdrawal and turning inward under the Trump administration, while India has yet to become an economic and military power. During 20th Century the USSR had ambition to challenge the US but communism was not a competitive economic force. Currently US political grid lock and industrial decline will also render it ineffective to exert its leadership position acquired during 20th Century.
Without the necessity of ideology forced feed to other nations, the Belt and Road Initiative philosophy of community of common destiny will grow harmoniously by infrastructure, digital and physical, commerce, people, and communication exchanges. Chinese win-win prosperity sharing can thus benefit the whole world without the need of one sided ideology to tie up the world. On the ground, Chinese business drivers such as high speed train, bike sharing, cashless society and Ecommerce and etc., voted most popular by Belt and Road Initiative citizens, will spread rapidly around the world by virtue of their popularity. With these and other Chinese commerce success, will follow Chinese culture and Tien Hsia philosophy just like US democracy followed US commerce success during 20th Century. When Tien Hsia philosophy spreads around the world, the rebalance of East and West will have arrived. World harmony and East and West rebalance dynamic coexistence will finally be realized!
Francis C W Fung, Ph.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization
San Francisco, CA, USA

Friday, April 14, 2017

Belt & Road to play crucial role for globalization
By Francis C W Fung, Ph.D., Director General of the World Harmony Organization, based in San Francisco, CA, US
An historic moment was witnessed on Dec. 25 last year, since China, along with 56 other founding members, launched the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to support the Belt & Road (B&R) Initiative that is expected to provide greater connectivity on a global scale.
The initiative was proposed by President Xi Jingping to demonstrate his modern vision for a community of common destiny for world prosperity.
The Belt refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt that connects China to Europe through Central Asia. The Road is the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road connecting China through South East Asia to the Arab world.
The initiative maintains a spirit of the ancient Chinese teachings of "Tien Xia Wei Kung (The world is for all.)" and "Tien Xia Da Tong (Great harmony over all the world)," which serve as Chinese cherished dreams for the world’s mutual commerce connectivity, prosperity, cultural respect and harmony.
It’s natural for Beijing to launch the initiative for historical, technological, financial capable and infrastructure building experience reasons. In the last 39 years since China’s reform and opening-up policy, China has constructed over 20 trillion US dollars worth of highways, railroads, high speed railroads, bridges, tunnels, internet and high voltage electric transmission infrastructure covering the nation’s 1.3 billion population.
Such super scale of construction in a short time has no historical precedence. China has the largest highway and high speed train networks in the world. By 2020, the 100th anniversary of the founding of Chinese Communist Party, all major Chinese cities are scheduled to be connected by high speed railroad.
The B &R would establish infrastructure, communication and cultural connectivity for the nations and regions adjoined along the route. All New Silk Road infrastructures completed will be connected to China, such as during the Ancient Silk Road Era. China’s rejuvenation will make it one of the major powers of the world yet again.
China seeks to become a driving force for the second round of globalization, which is likely grow larger and more inclusive than the first round of globalization led by the United States in the 20th century.
The US will remain the dominant military power but not the largest economic power, which means the US will no longer dominate the globe as Washington had done in the 20th century. The 21st Century globalization favors inclusivity, equality, mutual respect, win-win prosperity and world harmony.
China’s middle class will soon become the largest in the world. On account of Silk Road connectivity prosperity, the nation will be the hub market for globalization. Developing countries will continue to rise economically and culturally and the Belt and Road can benefit all humanity.
The Belt & Road Initiative endorses mutual consultations, cooperation and benefits for all countries, serving as a symphony for our world to become all inclusive that welcomes progress together with China!

China’s Belt & Road to drive 2nd-generation Globalization
By Francis C W Fung, Ph.D., University of Notre Dame; Director General of the World Harmony Organization, based in San Francisco, CA, US
America initiated the 20th Century world trade globalization. But the 2008 world financial crisis caused by the U.S. toxic asset collapse and its worldwide devastating spread signaled the end of the good days of world trade globalization of the 20th Century.
Seven years later world major economies in the world are still mired in great recession with the exception of China. The whole world is looking for new economic or technology breakthroughs to bail the world economy out of its quagmire.
China’s “Belt and Road” Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, which includes the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road came at the right time.
The Belt and Road Initiative, according to President Xi, is all about win-win cooperation and community of common destiny. Xi emphasized the Initiative is not just for China, but it is a world symphony. It will be built by mutual consultation, mutual cooperation and for mutual benefit.
This Intiative might be seen as the driving force for the wave of the second globalization, which might bring about the 21st century infrastructure revolution and transportation revolution.
The initiative is to launch modern transportation and communication infrastructure to connect Asia through Central Asia to Europe and from South East Asia through Indian Ocean to Middle East and finally Africa. This vast “Belt and Road” initiative can advance commerce, communication, cultural and technology exchange, people-to-people contact all over the world to benefit human progress in the brave 21st century.
The resulting world connectivity will bring trade globalization to another height far exceeding the 20th century because this time the connectivity expands to a far greater world. This time we may experience mutual development and prosperity like no other time in history before.
It will not only connect transportation, communication, culture, etc., but most of all, it will connect the hearts and minds of the people along the Belt and Road, and even beyond, and might lead to world harmony in the long run. Finally the ancient Chinese dream of “Shi Jie Da Tong (Great harmony over all the world)” might become a reality in the 21st century.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

WHAT BEST TO EXPECT FROM XI AND TRUMP FIRST MEETING-PROMISING FUTURE OF U.S., CHINA RELATION?
BY FRANCIS C W FUNG, PH.D.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump will have a historical meeting on April 7, 2017. It will define the future of U.S. China relation. What can we expect? To predict the outcome, first let us take a good look at both Presidents governing style, philosophy and vision. There are much we can glimpse from what is already well known in the media and available literature. Their governing philosophy and style cannot be farther apart. Donald Trump has little or no governing experience. His career experience can best be summed up as a real estate developer and host of the talk show, known more as “You are fired”. His governing style reflects his background as a shrew developer and talk show host. He is inclined to tweet messages to surprise his opponent to gain negotiation advantages. What he really says does not matter as long as he wins. This tactic was well exhibited during his presidential election campaign. Xi Jinping on the opposite is a leader with many years of governing experience and man with integrity and conviction. Through his political career he performed as governor or mayor for many important Chinese cities or provinces such as Fujian, Zhejiang and Xian, Shanghai and more. What impressed most was his own written youth guidance which started out with “The future of China belongs to people with positive knowledge, ideas and energy. The real crises are not financial crises but moral and belief crises…… Think of all humanity with love that knows no boundary” He has upheld his divine guidance throughout his governance of China such as poverty relief, rejuvenation of China and “Belt and Road” initiative to spread harmony, win -win mutual development and community of common destiny along the New Silkroad. For more details of Belt and Road initiative please refer to papers published by CCTV Forum.
Additionally, because of the huge differences between Trump’s short term objective and Xi’s long tern vision, their first meeting will certainly not go well without a specific agenda that will channel their discussions in the right direction. Fortunately, from opinions of both governments, one may conclude that both sides agree confrontations mean both will loose and cooperation is the only way to move forward. According to some key Trump advisors, U.S. needs badly to renew its outdated infrastructures. This can be just the right common ground to cooperate. After 30 some years of comprehensive infrastructures building China has accumulated tremendous advantages and advanced technologies in bridges, railroads and electric network building. There are unlimited spaces for cooperation both in the U.S. and internationally. Trump will accept Xi’s offer of infrastructure help and presents the offer as his “Art of the deal”. China will help to rebuild many of the U.S. outdated bridges, airport terminals, transmission network as well as badly needed electric cars and buses. This can create many U.S. jobs to please Trump that he can claim to be his credit. With the momentum of Belt and Road growing rapidly, China can use U.S. consulting firm experience for engineering services and contract negotiations on the New Silkroad.
With win-win comprehensive infrastructures cooperation fully on agenda the coming Xi -Trump first meeting may yet open a new era of cooperation between U.S. and China. China’s ancient teaching of world harmony and community of common destiny (Sai Jia Da Tong and Tien Hsia Wei Kung) as practiced by Xi, will finally happen to the world by the future cooperation of U.S. and China.
Francis C W Fung, PH.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization
San Francisco, CA.

Monday, December 12, 2016

TRUMP IS PLAYING HIS TAIWAN CARD WHY HE IS STILL LESS OF A THREAT TO CHINA THAN HILLARY OR OBAMA
America’s foreign policies toward China can be easily characterized as tactics to contain China’s growth and gain advantages for the benefits of the U.S. This selfish motive is very understandable in light of America’s concern of China’s economic challenge. All the China bashings from U.S. leaders simply reflect U.S. fear of China economic dominance which seems unstoppable. The only difference between the U.S. leaders bashing approaches are based either ideological or practical. Both Obama and Hillary are political intellectuals. They attack China on ideological levels such as freedom, democracy and human rights to plant seeds of divisiveness in China. Whereas Trump as seasoned business man, attacks China on trade practices and lately by playing the Taiwan card, in so doing hoping to gain advantages in trade negotiations. On surface Trump appears to be more aggressively against China than Hillary and Obama but on more analysis Trumps tactics will prove to be ineffective.
Of late there is a lot of buss in U.S. media about how brilliant Trump is in playing the Taiwan card, going as far as denying the long held U.S. one China policy. Since one China is a core interest of China, the U.S. main stream is supporting Trump for hitting China where it hurts. On surface it appears to be smart but in reality it is Taiwan that will be hurt and not China. This is because Taiwan is totally dependent on China economically. U.S. has very little to offer Taiwan economically by being friendly but China can hurt Taiwan economics badly by being unfriendly. Most of all by driving a wedge between China and Taiwan, Trump also unknowingly unites all Chinese worldwide behind the Chinese government to forge ahead Xi’s call for China dream and China rejuvenation. This will give more momentum to Xi’s “One Belt One Road” initiative to connect the world through the new Silk Road (please refer to my essay “China will become the Middle Kingdom again). What is more Trump’s use of Taiwan card will give China more reasons to reclaim more South China Sea islands, something that the U.S. Pentagon does not like. Trump will fail in deterring China, first he does not understand what drives China, second political negotiation and business negotiation may not mix, each requires its own response. At the end Trump cannot out negotiates China on the economic front because China’s economic momentum is unstoppable no matter how smart Trump is.
On the other hand, both Obama and Hillary tactics to attack China are much more dangerous. Since China needs its citizen’s support to move ahead on Xi’s strategies of China dream and China rejuvenation to reach the two important centennial goals of moderately prosperity and modern socialist state. The successful reaching of the two important centennial goals will largely depend on the unity of the nation. Hillary’s tactics are designed to plant seeds of ideological divisiveness in China. By excluding China, Obama’s TPP trade agreement is designed to isolate China from her own backyard economically. This will potentially restore America’s economic leadership in Asia and put a dent in China’s economic momentum.
Francis C W Fung, Ph.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization, S.F., CA

TRUMP IS LESS OF A THREAT TO CHINA BY PLAYING TRADE ATTACK AND TAIWAN CARDS THAN HILLARY CLINTON AND OBAMA
BY FRANCIS C W FUNG, PH.D.
America’s foreign policies toward China can be easily characterized as tactics to contain China’s growth and gain advantages for the benefits of the U.S. This selfish motive is very understandable in light of America’s concern of China’s economic challenge. All the China bashings from U.S. leaders simply reflect U.S. fear of China economic dominance which seems unstoppable. The only difference between the U.S. leaders bashing approaches are based either ideological or practical. Both Obama and Hillary are political intellectuals. They attack China on ideological levels such as freedom, democracy and human rights to plant seeds of divisiveness in China. Whereas Trump as seasoned business man, attacks China on trade practices and lately by playing the Taiwan card, in so doing hoping to gain advantages in trade negotiations. On surface Trump appears to be more aggressively against China than Hillary and Obama but on more analysis Trumps tactics will prove to be ineffective.
Of late there is a lot of buss in U.S. media about how brilliant Trump is in playing the Taiwan card, going as far as denying the long held U.S. one China policy. Since one China is a core interest of China, the U.S. main stream is supporting Trump for hitting China where it hurts. On surface it appears to be smart but in reality it is Taiwan that will be hurt and not China. This is because Taiwan is totally dependent on China economically. U.S. has very little to offer Taiwan economically by being friendly but China can hurt Taiwan economics badly by being unfriendly. Most of all by driving a wedge between China and Taiwan, Trump also unknowingly unites all Chinese worldwide behind the Chinese government to forge ahead Xi’s call for China dream and China rejuvenation. This will give more momentum to Xi’s “One Belt One Road” initiative to connect the world through the new Silk Road (please refer to my essay “China will become the Middle Kingdom again). What is more Trump’s use of Taiwan card will give China more reasons to reclaim more South China Sea islands, something that the U.S. Pentagon does not like. Trump will fail in deterring China, first he does not understand what drives China, second political negotiation and business negotiation may not mix, each requires its own response. At the end Trump cannot out negotiates China on the economic front because China’s economic momentum is unstoppable no matter how smart Trump is.
On the other hand, both Obama and Hillary tactics to attack China are much more dangerous. Since China needs its citizen’s support to move ahead on Xi’s strategies of China dream and China rejuvenation to reach the two important centennial goals of moderately prosperity and modern socialist state. The successful reaching of the two important centennial goals will largely depend on the unity of the nation. Hillary’s tactics are designed to plant seeds of ideological divisiveness in China. By excluding China, Obama’s TPP trade agreement is designed to isolate China from her own backyard economically. This will potentially restore America’s economic leadership in Asia and put a dent in China’s economic momentum.
Francis C W Fung, Ph.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization, S.F., CA

TRUMP IS LESS OF A THREAT TO CHINA BY PLAYING TRADE ATTACK AND TAIWAN CARDS THAN HILLARY CLINTON AND OBAMA
BY FRANCIS C W FUNG, PH.D.
America’s foreign policies toward China can be easily characterized as tactics to contain China’s growth and gain advantages for the benefits of the U.S. This selfish motive is very understandable in light of America’s concern of China’s economic challenge. All the China bashings from U.S. leaders simply reflect U.S. fear of China economic dominance which seems unstoppable. The only difference between the U.S. leaders bashing approaches are based either ideological or practical. Both Obama and Hillary are political intellectuals. They attack China on ideological levels such as freedom, democracy and human rights to plant seeds of divisiveness in China. Whereas Trump as seasoned business man, attacks China on trade practices and lately by playing the Taiwan card, in so doing hoping to gain advantages in trade negotiations. On surface Trump appears to be more aggressively against China than Hillary and Obama but on more analysis Trumps tactics will prove to be ineffective.
Of late there is a lot of buss in U.S. media about how brilliant Trump is in playing the Taiwan card, going as far as denying the long held U.S. one China policy. Since one China is a core interest of China, the U.S. main stream is supporting Trump for hitting China where it hurts. On surface it appears to be smart but in reality it is Taiwan that will be hurt and not China. This is because Taiwan is totally dependent on China economically. U.S. has very little to offer Taiwan economically by being friendly but China can hurt Taiwan economics badly by being unfriendly. Most of all by driving a wedge between China and Taiwan, Trump also unknowingly unites all Chinese worldwide behind the Chinese government to forge ahead Xi’s call for China dream and China rejuvenation. This will give more momentum to Xi’s “One Belt One Road” initiative to connect the world through the new Silk Road (please refer to my essay “China will become the Middle Kingdom again). What is more Trump’s use of Taiwan card will give China more reasons to reclaim more South China Sea islands, something that the U.S. Pentagon does not like. Trump will fail in deterring China, first he does not understand what drives China, second political negotiation and business negotiation may not mix, each requires its own response. At the end Trump cannot out negotiates China on the economic front because China’s economic momentum is unstoppable no matter how smart Trump is.
On the other hand, both Obama and Hillary tactics to attack China are much more dangerous. Since China needs its citizen’s support to move ahead on Xi’s strategies of China dream and China rejuvenation to reach the two important centennial goals of moderately prosperity and modern socialist state. The successful reaching of the two important centennial goals will largely depend on the unity of the nation. Hillary’s tactics are designed to plant seeds of ideological divisiveness in China. By excluding China, Obama’s TPP trade agreement is designed to isolate China from her own backyard economically. This will potentially restore America’s economic leadership in Asia and put a dent in China’s economic momentum.
Francis C W Fung, Ph.D.
Director General
World Harmony Organization, S.F., CA